Can-filling machine.



G. H. AYARS.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIONIFILED JULY a, 1906 944,354. Patented ms. m9:

G. H. AYARS.

CAN FILLING MACHINE. ArrLloA'ni-xg rum) JULY 3, 1906.

Patented Dec. 28', 1909.

'7 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

5 1 ucnfoz af iornurt MW C,

13 6 tneoae:

G. H. AYARS.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mus, 190s.

Patented D60. 28, 1909.

7 snnmrssum 3.

Snwentoz G. H. AYARS. 01m FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 3, 1908.

Patented Dec'.28,1909;

'l SHEETS-SHEET 4,

Siwcmtoz 10% {names G. H. AYARS.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED JULY a, 1906.

944,354. Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

I ammw G. H. AYARS. CAN FILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION TILED JULY 3, i906.

im mm Dec. 28, 1909 7 SHBETS-SEEET 6.

w rm, I W w Ga H. AYARS.

SAN FILLING MACHINE.

APZLIUATIOH FILED JULY 3', 1906.

4 54 Patented Dec.28,1909.

7 SHEETSSHEBT 7.

a n we "fox witneooeo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cHARIzEs AYARS, or

' :PAnY, or SALEM, new JERSEY,

To all, whom it mag/concern:

Be iitknown that 1,,CHARLES H. AYARS, a: citizeinof the United States, residing at Salem, .i1 '.;tjl1,e county of Salem and State of New Jersey, have inventedv certain new and I useful Impi-(Wemeuts in Can-Filling 1\la.-

7 the mach .a predetermined the? ope atijon chines, of which the following is a specification.

V Thisinventi-on relates to improvements in can-fillingmachines and while a machine constructed in J employed to fill other receptacles with V111 rious materials fthe machine illustrated in the drawingis, especially useful in canning peas,beans,:berries and the like.

,Some'f'f theobjects oftheinvent on are 'tolprov'ide an improved con t n R which will be continuous in its operso asto enable the cans to be filled the peas; to accurately. measure the 'quantity to be deposited in eachcan to measure and deposit 7 quantity of brine or other li'quidffor each can; to provide a measurchine, ation, p I rapidly, withoutwaste 'or'1n ury to ing device which maybe adjusted to vary the quantity of p easjfor each can according tothe sizej'of ,th' can, and to generally improve theconstructionof machines for this purpose and enable it to be used in filling cans ofvarioiis 'sizesior heights. p Theinventi'oii isfi-llustra'ted;inthe accompanying drawings in wliich', I i

illustrates a sideelevation of ".Fig. ;2, a plan view of the sa'ineff Fig a se'ct-ionalplan view,-the section beingtaltenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.' Fig.4. acen lii'ertical section through ,ppercarrier. Fig.5, a

hrougli one of' the indi- Figs. 6, 7 andS details of l utehdevice'sffor controlling measuring device. I 31a nd rear detail views respectively of'the' devices for feeding and guiding th npt-y cans into position tolb'e filleil. Fig. :11, detail fview foffflw 111 clind surface for seating the and seal ing itheinag inst the portend, the individual hoppers, Fig. lfflfa vei ical section through [the liquidlneasuri11g w alyfe.v Fig. 13. detail 'i iew l'i'owing in elevation' the lowe" .t the na hoppei, he ,lneasu g ing device ind'the la'n am t mp a'ting the latter Fig 14.1 'ert t lirolighthe'TOw t Figs. 9, ,an d

a'in lioin'ier accordance therewith maybe ical section Y .CAN-FILLINF MACHINE.

I I Specification'of lietters Patent. Pate-nted Dec,'2s 1909, V hpplieation filed July 5,1966. "Serie1No. 32 4,58 8.

and measuring devices. Fig. 15, a plan Fig. 16, a sectional plan view through the measuring device to show the adjustable walls therein. Fig. 17, a vertical section of the same. Fig. 18, a perspective view of the measuring device. Fig. 19, a sectional plan View of the lower or discharge end of the main hoper,--the section being taken on the line 18-.18 of Fig .'13, and Figs- '20, 21, 22 and 23 diagram uatic views showing the several positions of the measuring device. U .Referring to the drawings bynumerals, 1, designates the vertical legs or supports on which a stationary horizontal table, 2 rests. A central post, {1, extends vertically from the table and said post is provided with a vertical groove, 4X 1 support or collar, 3, loosely surrounds the post but connected thereto, by a feather, 3 which coacts with the groove, 4*,"in the post. This feather enables the collar to be' moved vertically on the post but prevents'its rotation thereon. The exterior or circumference of the collar is"providethwith screw-threads which are engaged by screw-threads onan outer inclosing ring, 5Q This inclosing ring seats on the table and by turning it thereon the col'-. lar, 3, will be made to move 'erticall'y on the post. The upper surface ofthe collar ,is provided with a'circularchannel in which a series of anti-friction dcvices s'uch as balls" A gear, 6, lias.a',.hub, 7, which turns. on the post and said hub seats and turns on the balls on the colla-r,'3. 'A short vertical. shaft, 8, also hasbearing in the table and the upper end of this vertical shaft'carries a pinion, I jects beneath the table" is provided with a bevel gear, 10, A horizontal shaft, 11 supported in stiitable bearings beneath the table and thissha-ft carries a bevel gear, 12, whichflneshes with and drives the gear.'10, on 't'lie;,'lo\ve1." end of the vertical shaft. 8, and theiouteren'd of said horizontalshat'tis providecl' with a large bevel gear, 13, which .isdri'veh by a pinion, 11.1011, the inner end of .a hoi 'iz'oiital" driving' shaft, 15. A main driving "pulley, 16, is provided on the outer end'of the shaft, '15, and .motion is imparted to all the working parts of the machine from tbs-pulley. 5 Y

Above. the gear, 6, andjcen'tered' around the vertic -al post or support, 4, is a hori-' view of the detached measuring device. 1

545 -.support,

'zontal,circular carrier, 17. Thiscarrier is provided witha plurality of arms, fl8,- which radiate from a central hub, and ffvertical Gil-M.

pins, 19, rigidly connect said arms' with the 7 horizontal gear 6, sothe carrier and gear" wrll be revolved togethen A plurality of individualhoppers, 20, are

mounted on the carrier, 17, and these hope pers are arranged their lower discharge ends, 21,pro1ect1ng below thecarrier and the lower "end of each hopper is pro- ;.vided with a gasket or ring, 22, of suitable yielding material to enable the open end of the can, 23, to be sealedbybeingforcedup against said gasket.

- Bra'ekets, 24, are bolted on the bottoni of carrier and-project downwardly therefrom j and the lower ends of these brackets are provided with laterally or horizontally-projectin'g curved arms, 25, whichare' designed to contact with the vertical wall of the cans and push them forward over the table, as

clearly seen in Figs, land 3; Atthe feedin point the-surface offthe 'tableis flat and the cans are thus deposited'on this fla't surface .with their open-ends uppermost and in the path of -thecurved arms, f25,which travel with "the carrier; As these arms en'- ,g ge' the wall of the can and the latter bes' to move forward, its bottom will be transferredffrom the flat surface of the table ontoan inclined surface,'26,"asjseen in Figs. 1 3, 9 and ll, and as the forward I;n ovement of the can continues it, the can,

will gradually be slightly elevated so as to .iorce'its-upper or open end up against the asket, 22, on'the lowerend of one of the oppers, leaving the opening of the can in :veommunication or register with the hopperopeni-ng; After the caniis properly seated against the bottom of the hopper *it will gtthen pass beyond the said incllned surface and besustain'ed slightly above the table by parallelrails, 27, so asto' reduce the fr1c tion between the bottom of the can and its Y The hoppers, 20,arrariged continw ously around-they carrier with their upper flared ends, 28,;jin cont-act with each other so'as to leave no opening-pr space between them through which mater al fromtheinain hopper may fall and be wasted. Each indiv-idual hopper is provided at its large end with 'a llOllZOlltfil frame, '29, 1n "which a verticall shaft, 30,L"and a horizontal shaft," 31.

have bearing, 'Both of these hopper shafts have gears,,32, and, 33, respectivelywhich mesh so that by revolving the "horizontal shaft, 31, the. vert'ical shaft', 30, w llalso be rei olved, k,A curved stirrer arm,34 is carried on the vertical shaft, 30, and said arm depends from theshaft and revolves in the lower discharge-end of the hopper as shown ass. 4

in Fig. 5, The outer end of each horizontal hopper-shaft, 31, carries a plmon, 35, by

vtionary table, 2.

means of which said shaft'is to-be relvolv'ed as the hopper travels. in a horizontalplane. A stationary circular'rack, 36, is sup'ported'onxthe vertical posts, 4, above the currier,

and thediameter of this rack is suchas to enable the -p1mons, 35, to mesh therewith :-'as

they travel with the hoppers thereby-giving an orbital movement to the vertical shafts,

30, and stirrer arms, 34;

the tablejand-beneath the individual hoppers \v1llnow be described. ,"At'one sitle the machine is provided-with a shelf or' platform, 3 7,wh0se upper or top surface is flush withftheflat top surface of the stag0,

This shelf or platform is provided' vitl1-a curved can guideway, 38, which directs the cans as they are pushed forward onto thetable in front of the inchned surface, 26. Achute, "39, is sustained 5 by and projects verticallyabove the platform, 37, and the lower end'of this chute opens directly over the guidewav, 38, "so that the cans passing'down through the chute,

will, drop one after "another in succession into the guidew'ayand their be pushed forward. At one-side"off the chute and be-,, tween the, latter and the table ."thereis a vertical shaft, 40, which passes tljirough the platform and projects'both' above and below the latter. The lower;end of this'shaft seats in abearing, 41,011 a horizontal' bar of 'a bracket or frame, 4:2, and above said bearing the shaft carries a'. bevel gear,f4;3,

which meshes with and is driven by a similar gear,.-l t, at the side of 1a clutch-wheel, l5, both of'which are on the inner end of 'the horizontal'shaft, 11. Afcan feed device is mounted .on the verticalshaft, 40," above the platform and said feed-device comprises a central hub, -t6,"and-laterally OrhOrizon-- tally-projectingarms, 47; Each of these arms is of such length as to projectpver the guideway, 38, when revolved, and in passing beneath the chute will contactjiwith and push the lowermost canout andj convey. it into andpartly through the guideway and leave itat the edge of the table, 2, asiclearlyseen'in Fig. 9. In order to prevent the cans from traveling by momentum asthearms,

47,1eave them I provide abra'kefl device comprising a fiat"plate,4;8, ,which extends {in a a direction parallel with thet guidew'ay ;and above the latterso to"frict1onally engage the guide-way adjacentthe table, 2-, and as the next 'can is pushed forward by. one of; v

the arms it'w'ill contact with andpushthe can ahead of it onto the table and iii the; path of the curved arms, ,It' will be .7 understood thamhe eans, are; fed continu 13,0

The mechanism for feeding the cans onto 75 ously one after another, through the guideway and onto the table and that they are then seated up against the lower ends of the individual hoppers which latter will re- H ceive the material from a main hopper and 7 then discharge it into the cans as they are rods. 15-2, (see Fig. 1) are employed to.

-conveyedover. said table.

The mechanism and devices coacting with the mamhopper to measure the material and discharge 1t into the md vldual hop,-

pers will nowbe described, At the upper" end, the post or'support, l, carries a horizo'ntal frame, 50, which is clamped rigidly thereto and projects laterally 0V6! the ciifi cular row of individual hoppers, as shouifi in Fig. 1. At its outer end this frame, 50, 1s PIOVIClGCl with a rectangular support, 51', having lateral flanges,'52, and said support is open at the top and bottom, as can be seen in Figs. 13 and 14 and for a purpose to be presently described. 'Itis on this lat terframe that the main hopper and meas; ur ng devices are supported. Suitable brace steady and aid i'n the support of the frame, 51. the flanges, 52,- of the latter is a horizontal -'table, 53, whose top surface, 54, is flat and smooth. Thistable has a hopper-like opening, 55, (see Fig. 14) whose walls, 56, are

inclined downward and project into the opening of the frame, 51.

stationary bar, 51, extends centrally across A; horizontal the opening, 55, and forms two side openings, 5S, and, 59, and the top surface of this bar is flush with the top surface of the table.

Two guide-ribs, 60, are provided on the top surface of the tableoneat eachside of the -opening, 55, and these ribs extend across "saidtable-surface in a'direction at right anagles to the bar, 57.

The measuring device which recipro'cates over the top'of' the table and between the latter, and the'main hopper will now be described, reference being made particularly 'to Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive. This measuring device comprises jtwo movable boxes or receptaclesffil; and, 62,'-one within the" other 5 andboth of which are movable between the -main hopper andfthetable, 53. The outer box,"61, isai-frame-like structure with a bottom, '63, having a central ,Nopenmg, 64,

i and'fa 1101), 65, with two ()ppingc 67791017193113 each side of a tiente rj'pla-te, G8. It 5 ll'f thus beunderstood thatthe center plate, 6830f the top is direct-1vover the ter' opening, G l, of the botton aa erves as a cut-ofi't The .two parallehsides of this fra-me,"61,"a re both open, asjplainlv seen in Figprr; and the 'two ends. (39, of the frame are provided with a lateralh projectinglugQ'TO, towhich alink. '71. and an opin gt oviding l u'gs 'on both ends of the frame is merely to enable the frame to be recipro- '58, and, '59, and also over theb On top of the frame and resting oneversedr if de: red.

cated from either end or I he fouter fraqne direction cross-wise. or at right-angles with respect to the direction fin-which tl1'e'-'l)0X and outer frame rec procate. -Th1s measuring device is open bothwat the "top and bot-3v tom and its vertical walls'slide in close p011 tact with the bottom of the ou'ter-: -"frame.

. T he central partition of' t l1is box torms two compartments, 75,. and, "7:6,:5Vlfl1lltfl1' outer vertical walls, 73; Lateral'ly-projecting bottom lugs, 77, are provided on oppositesides of the measuring 'device'g-"62g and "servegfto prevent'lateral movement of the frame, 61, beneath the box. These :lugsialso contact with and slide against. the niide ribs,l"(i0, onl

the-top surface of the tableand'prevent eral movement of thesmeasuring: d' cc while it is being reciprocated;-:- Lugs,; T8, are provided on opposlte ends of theme; s-

uring box, 62, and horizontal shafts, 79, e.

tend loosely through said lugs and have threaded outer ends, 80; The exti 'emetouter ends of these shafts are each provided with a circular plate or disk, 81, rigidl connected thereto so that the disks and shafts may be turned together. A connectingrod or bar, 8:2, is provided at each-end ofzrthe shafts and these bars connect: the two'dis'ks atsaid end. By this arran gementmthe turning of the shaft atone end of the measuring box will cause the shaft at the o 'iposite end also to turn alike distance. This rotarv movement of the-shaftsis availed of to alter the size of the interiorof the :measuring box, as will now be described; -Horizontal bars, 83, extend along opposite sides of the measuring box, -62, andeach of-these bars is provided with a circular' end through which thethreaded end,-80, of the shafts extend and havethreade'd engagement. As

these bars are sustained' bv1the two shafts.

the turning of the latter will cause the-bars to move or travel thereon andbennoved toward or away from the side of the measuring box according to the direction i11 ".vhicl'i the shafts. are turned. 1min bc understood that the shafts, i79, have no longitudinal movement irough' the lugs andfare held against such movement ib'y collars, Ssh 1' i ()n the interior of thez neas'uning boxwand at opposite sides of each compartment, 75.

and, '16, are movable vertical walls, 85, the upper edges of' which are provided with horizdntal flan cs, 86, as clearly seen in Fig. 17. These Wals, 85, at opposite .sides of each compartment are designed tobe moved toward each other in order .to reduce the size oif'the compartment or to be moved from each fother to enlarge said compartments.

" In order to elfect this ;I have provided each movable wall, 85, with a horizontalstem, 8 7,

which projects through an opening; 88, 111 the outer wall, 7 3, of the measuring-box and circular casting, 90, which latter has parallel bars, 91, at its lower end and the .bottom surface, 92', of this casting is smooth. and extends parallel with the top surface of the horizontal table, 53. Posts or supports, 93, project from lateral arms, 9,4,:onthe table,

.33, and serve to support'the circular casting and hopper immediately over'the measuring' device, l

' It has heretofore been explained that the bar. 72,0auses-a' reciprocation of the box or 1 frame. 61, and also the measuring box. 62.

In this connection it is to be understood that when the compartment, 76, of the measuring boxis' in register, or communication with the main hopper above it, as seen in Figs. 1-1, and "20 to 23, said compartment .is ,;either filled or being filled, while. the compartment, 't'fn-registers with the opening, 58, and .is discharging its measured. contents, SVhile the outer frame and inner box are in this position some. means-must be provldedto hold the inner box stationary-or atrest. while the cuterframe makes preliminary moven' ent 'suflic1ent"t o' cause it to accomplish two th ngs, to-wrt': 1st, close communication be.

tween the -main hopper "and the filledcompartment. T6, and 2nd. to close the bottom of the empty compartment, 7 This is accomplished by thecut ofi' plate. 68. at the. top and the plate,-,63, at." the bottom both moving forward before-the linnerjbox moves and said inner. box makes ,no movement whatever until this preliminarv cut -ofi' movement of the frame-1s completed. y

In order to hold the, 11111191 box at rest duting the partial or preliminary movement of the cut-off frame. I' -,r'ovideplate-springs, 95.o.ne ateach side ofthe inner measuring box, which sprmgs. hare theirends: secured to the arms, 94, of the bed, 53, and theircentral portions bowed .or bent upwardly soas -to contact with side-projections, 96, on the horizontal bars, 83, and by frictional contact therewith act as a' brake-t0 prevent said box frommov'ing' duringrsaid. preliminary move- When-the cut-' off or outer framehas moved sufficiently to completely close .theinlet' to one vcompartment-of the cut-off frame.

ment and the outlet from thef'other compartment its further movementwill cause its end 7 wall to contact or impinge against-themeasuring boxor the devices. on its end, said fur-' ther movement of the cut-off frame will; then carry the measuring box with it until it completes its stroke. ;As soon as the cut-off frame and the measuring box begin to move together then one compartment will begin to' fill and the other willbegintoflempt-y. By this construction at no instant can two compartments be either filling oremptying' at the same time and'the result is that the quantity or material discharged into the individual hoppers is accurately measured.

.' 'In'order to limit the movement of the measuring box and to adjust its stroke .aca curately I provide a stationary bar, 97, with :inwardly-projecting arms, 98, with adjusting screws. 99, which lattercontact with said box "when the latter reaches the end ,of' its stroke. I

In order to cause the reciprocation of the cut-off frame and measuring box the bar,72, must be oscillated and this is effected in the fOllOWlllgllllllllEl. The bar, 72, (see Figs. land 13) extends vertically fro na bracket, 100. to which it is pivoted and which. is

bolted at the side of the vertical legor sup port, 1. and adjacent the horizontal shaft.

11. At the lower end this bar has a lateral arm,101, which projects at the rearface of the cam, 45, and the inner end of this arm carries a roller, 102, which travels in a camgroove, 103-,fin saidcam,,4=5, as seen in broken linesin Fig. 13, sothat as the cam revolvesthe' arm. will be raised and lowered and the bar, 72, wi1rbe reciprocated. In order to prevent the materialinthef main hopper, 89, .frombecomingclogged I provide a device to keep -themateitial in motion while the fillingis going onrand this device...-

will now be briefly described; reference'being made, particularly-to Figs. 1' and '2fof1the drawing. The upper .portion of,

1 19 yertical} shaft; 10, extends through}v tube or sleeve. 1204", intlie wall of the ma inkhopper andthe endof said 'shaft has .bea'ringl'ina horizontal plate, 105, which ext'ends across the top ofthe hopper. A sprockwheel, 10 6, is mounted on, the end-aofsaid shaft. and. a ,chain. 10?, passes aroundsaid sprocket 21nd, also" around anothersp'roc'ket, lQS, which "is mounted in a bearing, 109, over the center of said hopper. :tA n, arm, 110.: depend?v from the center of the sprocket, 108, project the hopper it will stirthematerialdown into the hopper and the lowerliend of said arm is curved so. that-asit revolves in and prevent cloggi'ugin theloweia In a, ma ch1ne ofthis characterfat .15 line po -taint that when the feeding of thecans ceases for any; reason, tlieoperati'on of the measuring device and the cut-bifframewill also be stopped, and .in.,orde1 to accomplish 1 this I provide a clutch mechanisin'that will stop the operation of lever, 72, and also preventthe revolutioniofthe verticalshaft, 40, This mechanism is illustrated in,l{igs.f1, 6,

7 and; 8 ofthe drawings, and will now be described. The, clutch-wheel, =15,- is loosely mounted on 1 the horizontal shaft, 11, and said wheel is provided with a horizontallymovable bolt, 112,; which is normally pressed outward by a. spring, 113, whichis carried in a recess, at, thesi'de ofsaid bolt. At the side of the clutchiwheeliand fixed so as to revolve with; theshaft, 11, isa head, 114, and the face of,.this head which confronts the belt 112, is provided with projections,

115,. at diametrically opposite sides with.

which the bolt on the clutch wheel will engage to im jJartthe rotary v.inotionof the shaft, and head to the clutch; A collar, 116,

loosely surrounds the head'andis-provided with horiz ontal pins or trunnions, 117, at

cesses, 121. This cam has position directly in front of the ar1n,'119, of Itheswinging. bracket. in operating lever, 122, is, pivoted at its lower end to the frame, 12, anda link, 123, connects, the saidlever with the swinging bracket, 11 8.f' lt will be understood that in order to stop the operation of the' bar, T2, and the measuring devices the revolution of the clutch wheel must be stopped and this is accomplished by drawingthe upper end of the operating lever,

122,,and the link, 1 23'ou twardly. This movement of the link will'cause the collar, 116, to slide oventhe head, 11%;, and push the bold 112, in toward the clutch wheel so as to disengage it from the projection, 115, on the head and to hold said bolt thusdepres's'ed so the head can revolve free of .thejbolt; It

will be seen that while the'bracketflIS, is

swung out to release the clutch wheel the 6 arm, 119, will project into one fof; the

notches, 121, in the cam, ,12Q','and.'s top the a revolution" of said cani and '.also' the shaft,

140, and thus. discontinueQfeediiig"cans. [It is obvious that when the" c'lutchwheel is broughtto rest the bar,"7;? ,,w1ll cease to loo lylthnougilsaidsleeve ,an tl'is p. .i'ded with peer threads-{onavhich wheel,'., screw -Yhen' hi d dox n on the stei iitsfiil I *raiscd."liyafljustihg the wheel onthe stem reciprocate- "and the; 1ne'asurihg devices will also-"beat rest. After the 'peas'e,-}beans or berrieshavejbeenmeasured and deposited in the indimdual,hoppers itj i's :necessaryJtO applyasniallquantit -fofb 'n'e or syrupand in order that this liquid majj'be, discharged only when arcan is beneath the individual hoppers to receiveit, I havejprovid l d vices to efle'ct this operation, \vhiichjde will nowbe described, reference being to Figs. 1,2, 3 and 12 of the drawings.

In the machine-sh0wn in the draw ngs} have preferably provided two liquid deviceswith adjustablevalves so as 't-oprpp- I erly regulate the discharge'ateachope "HQ/" As both of these devices are alike a des 1ptionofone .ofthe'm is deemed suflicient." "At one side of themachine, and in the present instance diametrically,lopposite the feed-in point, the tablesupports a vertical frame or bracket, 125, which. sustains a vertical shaft,

126, the upper end of which carries a circular wheel, 127 which is provided with a plurality o f cajm surfaces, 128. The lower end of this vertical shaft, 126, is provided witha star wheel, 129, having a plurality of 1 'ad-ial arms which project horizontally over the table and, in the path of the cans.

A tubular valve-casing, 130, is sustained vertically at the upper endoft'the bracket,

125, and "the lower discharge-end,1131, of saidcasing has position in'a plane just above the individual hoppers. A liquidsupply pipe, 132,;enters the lower end of the asing and said pipe is supplied with liquid from any suitable reservoir or tank, which is-not deemed necessary to be shown. A valvestem, 133', (see' Fig 12) ,v extends vertically through the casing andis"providedwith a was, 134;, at its lower end "whiehfcloses the discharge end of the casing. ATitilla-r,135,

on thestem servesas a seat for tlie'lower cntlof {a spiral spring, 1,36, -while"tlie-. upper end of, said spring is held compressed by seating against the bottom of a capg'pljate, 11 137, at the upper ,end of the casing, An

arm,138,' is provided on the cap platelnd a lever, 139', with a circular opening; li Ofhas one end pivotedto said; arnr while its-"other endprojects between vertical'gi ides aiiil is provided with a' roller, 1 11, which travels over thecam' surfaces, 128,. Of the circular wheel. As the, \\-"heel,-127,turns it's' a1nsurfaceswill 'caiise the l fall-., A sleeve,;, 1

is p votallyan tiuiited iii 1 9 9 the circular "openin 'f140, of: .t-lie leve'rl antl "the ,upper end of,the.valve stein passes the vertical movement of the .valve maybe changed dso H as to i keep "said "valve open a longer or shorter per1od,-, and thus permit 'moreeorless, liquid escape at the-bottom. As thereiare two valvesit -1s desirable that they he adjusted alike and in order to accomplish tlliSII ass a chain, 144, around both of them thatt ey may be turned alike, during the "adjustin operation.- It will be understood that as'the cans arrive at thestar wheels, 129,- the latter will be given a partial turn and the shaft, 126,-and wheels, 127, will also be partially'rotated. This movement will be ji' suflicient to cause the roller, 141, and lever, 139 to be elevated and dro 'ped and the elevation and drop ing of said lever" will causethe'valve stem a so to'rais'e and drop, thus opening and closing-the valve's, 134. When no can is beneath a hopper the valve .device will not be operated It is also to wbe understoodthat thesprocket chain per-.

:mits one valve to open and close independently of the. other. lifter the filled cans ass the liquid, device theyl'will be conveye inthe path of a chain carrier, 145, which will I draw them from beneath the hoppers, and convey them to any desiredrpoint 1 H Having thus describedmy invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let.-

ters-Patentis,- I 1, A'can-filling machine havinga deviceto, sustain the-cans; a pluralityof Individual hoppers; a reciprocating measuring receptacleabove the hoppers; a stirrer" in each hopper; acircular rack; means for'"operatlvely connectingthe stirrer with the rack,

and means whereby allflthe hoppers,stirrers, and m1; may be raised or lowered simultaneously to adjust their position, between the ran-sustaining device and the reciprocating receptacle I 2Q A can-filling machine having a station- .ary'can-table; a post extending abovethe table; a vertically movable support on the post "near the table and havingcircumferentialfiscrew-threads; a ring seated on'the 1 table and having screw-threads to engage the; threads on the support; an'da carrier and gear mounted on the post and sustained by the support. f

'3. A. can-filling machine having a plurality of individual hoppers traveling in an endl'ess path; means for sustaining the cans with their open ends-adjacent the hopper outlets; a stirrer arm depending from the upper .end of each of said hoppers, andmeansfor operating said arms as the .hoppers'trav'eL, 1 v

4. A can-filling machine having a pluralityof, individual hopperstraveling in an endless path; means for sustaining the'cans with their open ends adjacent;thej hopper outlets; a vertical shaft in each hopper ;"a stirrer arm-depending into the hopper from vertical shafts and arms as the hoppers traveL; 4 v

. 5. A can-filling machine having -a* can table';,a hopper carrier above the table;-fa

plurality of hoppers sustained by said carv rier; means for revolving said: carrier; a stirrer arm in each-hopper; means on the ,ex-- teriorof the hopper for operating the stirrer arms; and means forvertically adjusting the position of the hoppers with respect to the can table. 1 f a a 6. A can-fillingfimachine having'a cantable; a hopper c'arriei fzabove the table; a plurality of hoppers sustained by said carrier; .a horizontal shaft in each of said hoppers; ,a pinion on each shaft at the side of the hoppers;'a vertical shaft also} in each hopper; gears in each hopper to connect the; two shafts therein; ast-irrer arm carried by I theuvert-ical shaft of each hopper, and a rack with which all ofthe pini'ons-mesh. ,Y 7. A can-fillingmachineflhaving main hopper. with a single discha'rge'outlet; a plurality of individual hoppers traveling beneath the main hopper; ameasnring device interposed between the mainland individual ho pers and having two compartments; cutofl slides operating at opposite sides of'the measuring device and means ltor reciproca'ting said measuring device'and slides in a horizontal plane between {said hoppers whereby to receive a measured quantity of material in one compartment'from the main hopper" and to simultaneously discharge a like quantity from the other compartment into one of the individual hoppers.

8. A can-filling machine having a main hopper with a single discharge outlet; a measuring device below the main hopper land having two compartments; asli deframe' operatingat opposite sides of thetmashring device; aplurality of traveling individual, hoppersbelow the slide frame; a stationary hopper device :interposed between the'shde frame and thetraveling'individualhoppers for dire ctin the material into the latter and means or reciprocating the measuring device andslide'frame so that one compart -ment may be registered at a ,time with the t single out et of the-main hopper while the L compartmentout of register with the main hopper may discharge its contents.

9.1 A can-filling machine havlnga main hopper with.a-single out-let; a cut-off fram'e movable beneath the hopper; a m'ea 'suring device movable in the cut-off frantic, and means for operating the fra'me to close communication between the single outlet of the hopper and the measuring device and to ,openan t utlet from themeasuring device;-

10.'A can-filling machine havinga mam hopper; a cut-ofi frame movahle beneath the hopper a measuring device in sa d frame; 'means for first moving the frame independently ofthe measuring device to close comhopper; a cut-off frame movable beneath the hopper; a measuring device in said frame; means for holding the measuring device stationary while the cut-off closes the inlet to it and means for moving the measuring device and frame together to open the outlet from the measuring device.

13. A can-filling machine having a main hopper; a cut-off frame movable beneath the hopper; a measuring-device in said frame and having two compartments; means for moving said frame to close the inlet of one compartment and the outlet of the other compartment of the measuring device, andmeans for moving the frame and measuring its upper side and a single openin device together to 0 en the outlet of the first compartment an the inlet of/the other. 14:. A can-filling machine having a main hopper; a cut-off frame below the hopper and having-two spaced-apart openings in in its bottom; a measuring device open 0th at the top and bottom and having two compartments,said measuring device having j position between the top and bottom openings of the frame, and means for operating the frame to alternately open-and close the compartments. y

15. A can-filling machinev having a main hopper; a cut-off frame below the hopper vice to close filling communication between T the hopper and one compartment and to" cut oflf the outlet from the other compartment, and means for moving the measuring device and frame together to open the outlet of the filled compartment and to open the inlet'of the empty compartment.

16. A can-filling machine having a main hopper; a plurality, of traveling individual hoppers; a measuring device havingtwo compartments between the main hopper and individual hoppers; a cut-off frame movable at opposite sides of the measuring device,

and means for moving said frame to establish communication between one c0mpa1t-' ment and the main hopper and to establish communication between the other compartment and one of the individual hoppers.

17. A can-filling machine having a main hopper; a measuring receptacle beneath the main hopper and having movable walls at opposite sides; means for operatively connecting all the movable walls of the measuring receptacle whereby 'they may all be adjusted simultaneously to vary the capacity of the measuring device,v and means for moving the measuring receptacle with respect to the hopper to first fill and then discharge the measured contents. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in pr'esence of two witnesses.

v CHARLES H. AYARS.

Witnesses:

WV. T. HILLIARI), CHAS. C.'TIoE. 

